A woman recently had quite the scare when she found a spider’s web in the footwell of a rental car she’d been using for three weeks.
Linz Corona, who goes by @linzcorona on TikTok, documented her startling discovery in a viral video that garnered over 11.5 million views and 381,000 likes. In the clip, she expressed her shock, overlaying the text: “I have been driving this rental car for 3 weeks and just noticed this…”
Viewers quickly chimed in, speculating about the spider’s identity. Some even jump to the conclusion that it was a deadly “black widow.” A user remarked, “That’s a black widow spider web!”
However, based on the web’s structure and a shed exoskeleton in the frame, experts believe the spider was likely a cellar spider.
Cellar spiders are identified by their long legs and often spin messy webs in dark places like basements. Contrary to popular myths, these spiders do not have venom that poses a threat to humans, as their venom is tailored for tiny insects. Expert Fredericks states, “They can’t break human skin with their fangs.” While all spiders are venomous, cellar spiders are generally considered harmless.
Fredericks explained that these spiders prefer dark, undisturbed environments, making their presence in a car unusual; it’s likely the spider hitched a ride by accident.
Given the heat inside the car, any spider that might have survived might not be in good shape. “Best advice now is to simply vacuum up the web,” he suggested.
On TikTok, the audience shared their opinions. One user commented, “It looks like a cellar spider! Harmless and kinda cute,” while another joked, “Am I the only one who can’t see the spider? Help me out here.”
In a follow-up, Corona revealed more about her “spider saga,” confirming that the creature was still residing in her car. “It was not a black widow after all; it looks like it’s probably a daddy long leg. It’s still in the car,” she said.